This fête was held in the Oyeno Park within the city, and was witnessed by
thousands of His Majesty’s faithful and loyal subjects. The Oyeno Park is a
large inclosure, embracing an area of several square miles, beautifully
adorned with fine forests and traversed by superior carriage-ways, and is
also a historic ground, being the burial place of several of the Shoguns,
whose memorial temples are of elaborate finish, and is also the burial place
of many of the soldiers who tell there, A. D. 1868, in the last battle for
the restoration of the present Mikado, the lineal representative of the
dynasty which was founded by Jimmu Tenno seven hundred years galore our
era.
It seems to me worthy of record that on this occasion, when so many hundreds
of thousands of people covered for miles the way over which the Emperor
pissed to the park, where also many thousands were assembled, there was
among the immense throng the most perfect orde and respectful silence, thus
manifesting their profound regard for thei Emperor and their respect for law
and decorum.
The action of the people in tendering this magnificent entertainment to the
Emperor and His Majesty’s acceptance of it, constitute an event without
precedent in this empire, and bear witness that both the Emperor and the
people of Japan recognize, as I have before had occasio to report in these
dispatches, that they consider it to be the duty of th government to promote
the welfare and to protect the rights of the governed, and the duty as well
of the people to maintain the supremacy of the government.
His Majesty the Emperor received, as reported in the public journals, on this
occasion, in person, 2,400 of the aged people of the empire, who came to pay
their respects to him.
I herewith inclose a full account of the festivities on the occasion and of
the decorations of the grounds; also copies of the addresses the Emperor of
the chiji (governor) of Tokei, and of the reception committee and also of
the Emperor’s reply thereto, as translated in the Weekly Mail of the 30th
ultimo.
I note in this published report that on that day General and Mrs. Grant each
planted a tree in the grounds near the temple Toshogu, where a stone will be
erected bearing the inscriptions “Grant’s Hinoki,” and “Mrs. Grant’s
Gryokuran,” these words, “Hinoki” and “Gryokuran,” being the Japanese names
of the respective trees so planted.
[Inclosure in No. 95–1—Japan Weekly Mail,
August 30, 1879.]
The People’s Fête to the Mikado.
Old Yedo never saw such a display as was witnessed on Monday last, when
Tokei, the capital of the restoration, rather famous of late for its
public entertainments, eclipsed itself by the magnificence of its fete
to the Mikado. In no other country could such a characteristic
assemblage have been witnessed; such a quiet popular gathering, such a
multitude without tumult or rowdyism, such taste in its accessories, and
such cordial hospitality in its reception of guests.
This popular fête to the Mikado had been for some time projected by the
citizens of Tokei, who were anxious that their Emperor should receive
from the people of his capital the same display of loyalty which, so
far, had principally been confined to the provinces through which, from
time to time, he had made a royal progress. For a short time a doubt
existed as to whether the proposed entertainment would be accepted or
not, and the native-papers have been full of paragraphs upon the
anticipated disappointment of their hopes. But the invitation was
finally accepted, the fete has passed, and the impression left on the
mind of everyone who witnessed it must have been one of unalloyed,
satisfaction.
The crême de la crême of a public festival
consists in the crowd who witness it; in the sea of men, women, and
children surging to the barriers to get a glimpse of the passing show,
and in the grand sight of the millions who expect nothing but a
momentary view of a pageant in which they are but spectators. And this
was more than realized on Monday. For upwards of three miles a dense
population crowded the streets of the capital to witness the passing
guests, while in the park of Uyeno a great ocean of people flooded the
grounds and gave the finishing touch to the picture—that deep background
without which the picture itself would have been but a miniature.
From the railway station at Tokei to the entrance of the Uyeno park
crowds of quiet citizens lined the streets; one continuous line of red
and white lanterns, suspended on battens marked the roadway, and three
compact, well-built triumphal arches gave a special mark of interest to
those portions of the old Tokaido. These arches deserve special, notice;
they were well-shaped, closely covered with evergreens, and the middle
one (near the Nihon Bashi), with a red bridge forming its arch and two
figures looking down on the passing crowd, was particularly elegant. At
Uyeno long pavilions had been erected forming three sides of a square,
in which accommodation was found for all the guests, who must have
numbered several thousands. In the centre of the principal pavilion was
the place set apart for the Mikado, who arrived on the ground shortly
after half-past three in the afternoon, escorted by a troop of lancers
and accompanied by the representatives of Tokei, who had met him at the
park entrance. The presentation to his Majesty of old people of Tokei,
over eighty years of age, was then made, some addresses were read and
replied to, and at about half-past four the games commenced, which were
to form the Principal attraction of the fête, General Grant and suite
and the diplomatic body having arrived in the mean time.
The first performance consisted of lance and sword exercise, in which
some hundred men took part; fighting in couples either with lances or
broadswords. The performers were incased with the usual padding on their
left side, while their heads were protected with masks, and right
lustily did they belabor one another. To onlookers the broadsword
exercise afforded the most amusement, especially when, in the excitement
of the tussle, the two men would drop their weapons and fight out the
battle by wrestling, often rolling over and over each other in their
momentary wrath or vexation.
After this came the Yabu same, or archery, by
mounted horsemen, and of all the games this certainly was the most
entertaining. A straight road across the inclosure was kept by hurdles
(forming a riding-course of probably 300 yards), and three white paper
targets stood in front of black boards at equal distances, each target
being about 10 feet from the road down which the archers had to ride at
full speed. The first target was at the commencement of the course, the
second in the middle, and the third at the finish.
The archers (who we understand were all of the Hatamoto class) appeared
in their picturesque costumes, which are now only to be seen in the
prints of a past civilization, with their many colored dresses, their
aprons of deer or bear skin, their heavy stirrups, their long bow, and
their quiver of arrows at saddle seat. Starting at a gallop, the archer
places his arrow in position with the bow held well up; as he nears the
target the bow stretches, the arrow comes in a line with his eye, and,
when passing the object, an imperceptible motion discharges the shaft
into “the target, cutting it in two, and creating a shower of tinsel
paper to attract attention to his prowess, while the attendant marker
raises a white “mop” to show the hit.
The practice was wonderful, and out often competitors but one failed to
hit the targets, and he, poor fellow, missed all three. Most struck all
in succession, and the
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last
rider won well earned applause by brandishing his arrow in his hand
until the target seemed to have been passed, when suddenly its very
center was found to have been pierced! This able archer was Mr. Kasiyo,
a prince of Chikugo and a former governor of Kanagawa.
The Horo and Kinu Biki was
an interesting display of Japanese horsemanship, in which four riders
showed off the paces of their ponies and the peculiar action which was
such a favorite performance before western ideas came into the country.
One black pony, belonging to Mr. Matsugata, was especially effective and
a very showy animal.
The last performance was the Inu-o-mono, in which
twenty-four horsemen took part. The usual programme of this game is to
start a dog from a circle (round which the archers are clustered), and
for it to be shot at by blunted arrows and then chased round the ground.
On Monday drags were used, and much fun arose from the attempts of the
crowd of horsemen to overtake and shoot the drag, which was drawn by one
of their number at full gallop across the field. One black dog was,
however, let loose, and he seemed to have been an old stager at the
game, for in spite of several palpable hits from the blunted arrows, he
gave good sport in doubling through the crowd of pursuers until, tired
out, he was allowed to rejoin his keeper and go to kennel.
The Mikado left immediately after the games, when all the guests repaired
to the supper pavilion, where ample meat and most ample drink were
provided for an innumerable crowd of hungry and thirsty souls.
From dark until ten o’clock an unusually fine display of fire-works was
let off from the lake, and the whole park became aglow with lanterns
hanging in festoons from tree to tree. The road back to the station,
with its myriads of lights, its crowds of people, its block of carriages
and jinrikishas, is a sight which will not be forgotten by those who
witnessed it, and who will remember with pleasure the Mikado’s fete of
the 25th August.
The number of aged people presented to the Mikado amounted to 2,400,
according to the native papers; from which source we also learn that
during the afternoon, upon the suggestion of Mr. Tsuda, a member of the
committee and the well known agriculturist, a tree was planted by
General Grant in toe neighborhood of the Temple of Tôshôgû, in front of which a stone with the inscription
“Grant’s Hinoki,” is to be erected. Mrs. Grant
also planted a tree which is named “Mrs. Grant’s Giyokuran,” both being highly pleased at the remembrance of
their visit to Japan being thus perpetuated.
The following translations of the addresses presented to the Mikado are
taken from the Japan Herald:
From the Chiji of the Tokio
Fu:
“Your Majesty the Emperor has accepted the invitation of our
citizens and paid a visit to the public gardens at Onyeno, on
this 25th day of August, in the 12th year of Meiji, and shown
Your Majesty’s favor by complying with the desire of the public.
Since the accession of Your Majesty to the imperial throne until
the present time, Your Majesty’s glorious administration has
daily improved for twelve years; under Your Majesty’s reign the
population is daily increasing in number, and Your Majesty takes
the initiative in promulgating new laws and making the
administration more perfect.
“Your Majesty has created the Gun and Ku divisions for the greater convenience
of the districts, and local assemblies to bring the government
and the people into fuller harmony. By placing local officers in
the Gun and Ku the
administration has been brought into a more working order, so
that whenever a new law is issued it is cheerfully obeyed, and
with the same ease as the running water seeks its level. Such
things could never have taken place if it were not that Your
Majesty’s virtue had cast its charm over the people.
“And now Your Majesty has honored us with your imperial visit;
what are we to do to show how highly we appreciate Your
Majesty’s favor? I, Masataka, Your Majesty’s servant, have been
entrusted with the charge of this Fu, and
day and night I strive to comply with Your Majesty’s gracious
will, on the one side, and with patriotic, promptings of the
people, on the other side, and I avail myself of this auspicious
opportunity, in the name of the Tokei citizens, to offer my
homage to Your Majesty. I beg to present this new map of the Gun and Ku in our
Fu.
“Your Majesty’s servant,
“KUSUMOTO MASATAKA.
Tokei Fu Chiji,
“The 25th August, 12th year Meiji.”
From the reception
committee:
“We, the representatives of the citizens of Tokei, respectfully
return thanks for Your Majesty’s favor, and ask permission to
express our feelings of gratitude.
“Your Majesty’s reign is bountiful like the falling rain, and
Your Majesty’s virtue is exalted like the rising sun. Law and
order are firmly secured, and for thousands
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of years there never was so bright
a time as the present. Your Majesty has accepted the invitation
of the citizens and honored them with a visit; how could we,
Your Majesty’s servants and citizens of Tokei, forbear from
expressing our gratitude? We humbly hope that Your Majesty may
live forever, and that Your Majesty’s servants may be every day
more and more of one mind, and enjoy themselves for thousands of
thousands of years to come.
“Your Majesty’s servants.”
To which the following was His Majesty’s reply:
“By invitation of the people of this Fu we have
to-day appeared here; we have received their welcome, at which we have
been highly gratified. We wish that our people may prosper in their
various callings and enjoy themselves forever.”
